* Storm information: – about 230 Miles South of Charleston SC or about 190 Miles South of Savannah ga – 29.4n 80.5w – storm intensity 120 mph – movement North-Northwest or 345 degrees at 12 mph

Situation Overview ——————

Hurricane Matthew will track North along/near the East coast of Florida today…Then continue North near the Georgia coast this afternoon intotonight. The Hurricane should continue to track near the South Carolina coast late tonight into Saturday before turning East and further offshore. Matthew could be a category 2 or category 3 Hurricane as it passes close to the Georgia and South Carolina coasts.

Tropical storm Force winds are forecast to Reach coastal SouthEast Georgia and coastal South Carolina this afternoon…Then Spread into Inland areas tonight. Across Inland areas…Sustained winds could Reach as High as 40-50 mph with gusts up 55-60 mph. Near the immediate coast…Sustained winds of 55-65 mph with gusts up to 75-80 mph will be possible. Locations along the coast in Charleston County could see sustained winds of 65-75 mph with gusts up to 80-90 mph. These winds will Likely damage Trees and weaker structures and Result in widespread Power outages.

There is now an increasing Risk of sustained Hurricane Force winds along the immediate coastline Due to the close Proximity of Matthew tracking near the coast…Especially for locations along Southeast South Carolina. The threat for Hurricane Force winds will Increase for coastal locations tonight into Saturday…Then lower as Matthew shifts away from the coast Saturday evening into Saturday night. The threat for tropical storm Force winds or higher should begin to decrease in Georgia late Saturday afternoon into the evening and in South CarolinaSaturday evening into Sunday morning.

The latest track of Matthew is expected to produce widespread rainfall totals of 8 to 14 inches with isolated higher amounts…Highest along the coast. Rainfall totals will Range from 4 to 8 inches across far Inland locations. Heavy rainfall will begin this morning and continue throughSaturday…Tapering off Saturday night from Southwest to Northeast. These rainfall amounts could Result in extensive fresh water flooding…Especially during the times of High Tide and maximum storm surge near the coast.

The most Likely storm surge scenario associated with Hurricane Matthew is 6 to 9 feet of inundation above ground Level in SouthEast Georgia. In Southeast South Carolina…4 to 8 feet of inundation is expected. Storm surge forecasts could be higher or lower depending on the track and intensity of Matthew as it approaches the area. The combination of storm surge and Waves could Result in Major coastal flooding and severe Beach erosion. Homes…Structures and Roads near beaches could be compromised. Dangerous rip currents and large Waves will make for treacherous Surf conditions through the weekend.

The threat for tornadoes will remain Low this weekend because the Center of Hurricane Matthew is anticipated to remain offshore. However…There is a Risk for isolated tornadoes in coastal areas today through Saturday as Rain bands move onshore.

Potential impacts —————–

* Wind: protect against Life-threatening wind having possible devastating impacts across Southeast South Carolina and SouthEast Georgia. Potential impacts in this area include: – structural damage to sturdy buildings, some with Complete roof and Wall failures. Complete destruction of Mobile homes. Damage greatly accentuated by large airborne projectiles. Locations May be uninhabitable for Weeks or months. – unsafe to shelter even in well-constructed buildings. Impossible to venture outside Due to falling objects and airborne projectiles. – numerous large Trees snapped or uprooted along with fences and roadway signs blown over. – Many Roads impassable from large debris, and more within Urban or heavily wooded locations. Most or all Bridges and Access routes impassable. – widespread damage to Power and communications infrastructure with resulting outages possibly lasting for Weeks or longer. Gas leaks and fallen Electric wires pose a threat to Life. – Many vessels will Likely break Free from Moorings.

* Surge: protect against Life-threatening surge having possible extensive impacts across coastal South Carolina and coastal Georgia. Potential impacts in this area include: – large areas of deep inundation of Saltwater along immediate shorelines and in Low-lying spots farther Inland near Rivers and creeks, with storm surge flooding accentuated by battering Waves. Structural damage to buildings, with several washing away. Damage compounded by floating debris. Locations May be uninhabitable for an extended period. – large sections of near-shore escape routes and secondary Roads washed out or flooded and impassable. Flood control systems and barriers could become stressed. – severe Beach erosion with significant dune loss. – Major damage to marinas, docks, boardwalks, and piers. Many Small Craft broken away from Moorings, especially in unprotected anchorages, with some lifted onshore and stranded. – drinking water and sewer services negatively impacted. – hazardous containers and materials possibly present in surge Waters.

* Flooding Rain: protect against Life-threatening rainfall flooding having possible extensive impacts across Southeast South Carolina and SouthEast Georgia…Especially for locations East of Highway 308 in Georgia and East of interstate 95 in South Carolina. Potential impacts include: – Major rainfall flooding May prompt Many evacuations and rescues. – Rivers and tributaries May rapidly overflow their Banks in multiple locations. Small streams, creeks, canals, ditches May become dangerous Rivers. Flood control systems and barriers could become stressed. – Flood Waters could enter Many structures within multiple communities; some structures become uninhabitable or are washed away. Flood Waters could Cover multiple escape routes. Streets and parking lots become Rivers of moving water with underpasses submerged. Driving conditions become dangerous. Many road and Bridge closures with some weakened or washed out. – drinking water and sewer services could be negatively impacted. – hazardous containers and materials possibly present in Flood Waters.

* Tornadoes: protect against a Tornado event having possible limited impacts across coastal Southeast South Carolina and SouthEast Georgia. Potential impacts include: – isolated tornadoes can hinder the execution of emergency plans. – isolated locations could experience Tornado damage, along with Power and communications disruptions. – in isolated locations, tornadoes could damage Trees, vehicles, boats and buildings, especially Mobile homes and and other poorly constructed structures.

* Other coastal hazards: dangerous and frequent rip currents…High Surf and significant Beach erosion are expected along coastal South Carolina and coastal Georgia.

Precautionary/preparedness actions ———————————-

* Evacuations: if evacuating the area, stick to prescribed evacuation routes. Look for additional traffic information on roadway Smart signs and listen to Select radio channels for further travel instructions. Drivers should not use cell phones while operating vehicles.

If evacuating away from the area or relocating to a nearby shelter leave Early before Weather conditions become hazardous

Recovery phase – do not Return to evacuated areas until it is Safe. Listen for the all-clear Signal from Local authorities.

* Other preparedness information: now is the Time to bring to completion all preparations to protect Life and property in accordance with your emergency plan.

Outside preparations should be wrapped up as soon as possible before Weather conditions completely deteriorate. Any remaining evacuations and relocations should be expedited before the Onset of tropical storm Force wind.

If you are relocating to Safe shelter, leave as Early as possible. If heading to a community shelter, become familiar with the shelter rules before arrival, especially if you have special needs or own a pet. Take essential items with you from your emergency supplies kit. Check the latest Weather forecast before departing.

Failure to adequately shelter May Result in serious injury or loss of Life. Always heed the advice of Local officials and comply with any orders that are issued. Remember, during the storm 9 1 1 emergency services May not be Able to immediately respond if conditions are unsafe. This should be a big factor in your decision making.

Check-in with your emergency Points of Contact among Family, friends, and co-workers. Inform them of your status and well-being. Let them know how you intend to ride out the storm and when you plan to Check-in again.

Keep cell phones well charged and Handy. Also, cell phone chargers for automobiles can be helpful after the storm. Locate your chargers and keep them with your cell phone.

In emergencies it is Best to remain Calm. Stay informed and focused on the situation at Hand. Exercise Patience with those you encounter. Be a Good samaritan and helpful to others.

If relocating to a nearby shelter or to the Home of a Family member or Friend, drive with Extra caution, especially on secondary Roads. Remember, Many Bridges and causeways will be closed once higher winds arrive. Also, if you encounter water covering the road, seek an alternate route. Always obey official road signs for closures and detours.

If you are a visitor and Still in the area, listen for the name of the city or town in which you are staying within Local news updates. Be sure you know the name of the county or Parish in which it resides. Pay attention for instructions from Local authorities.

Closely Monitor noaa Weather radio or other Local news outlets for official storm information. Be Ready to adapt to possible changes to the forecast.

* Additional sources of information: – for information on appropriate preparations see Ready.gov – for information on creating an emergency plan see getagameplan.org – for additional disaster preparedness information see Redcross.org

Next update ———–

The next Local statement will be issued by the National Weather Service in Charleston SC around 615 PM EDT, or Sooner if conditions warrant.

Dorchester County announces shelter locations, transportation plans

Dorchester County has opened four shelters for residents who want to relocate due to Hurricane Matthew, and a ffifth shelter has been activated for residents with special needs.

The shelters are located at:

Woodland High School at 4128 U.S. Highway 78 in Dorchester. This shelter is at 3 percent capacity, with 15 occupants out of a maximum 450;

Summerville High School at 1101 Boone Hill Road in Summerville. This shelter is at 2.5 percent capacity, with 55 occupants out of a maximum 2,194;

Fort Dorchester High School at 8500 Patriot Blvd. in North Charleston. This shelter is at 2 percent capacity, with 28 residents out of a maximum 1,773; and

Saint George Middle School at 600 Minus Street in St. George. This shelter opened shortly after 11 a.m.Fridayand has a maximum occupancy of 417.

A special needs shelter is at the Dorchester Senior Center at 312 N. Laurel Street in Summerville. This shelter is at 75 percent capacity, with 15 occupants out of a maximum of 20. Residents must call the county’s Call Center at 843-832-0393 before showing up at this shelter.

Dorchester County also has three standby shelters with a combined maximum occupancy of 1,447 if needed.

Shuttles are available for residents who need transportation to a shelter. The shuttles will run until 3 p.m.Friday and wheelchair accessible shuttles are available through Tri-County Links.

Locations for shuttles taking passengers to the Summerville High School shelter are:

The Sears parking lot at 4570 Ladson Road, Summerville;

The Bi-Lo parking lot at 957 Bacons Bridge Road, Summerville; and

Sand Hill Methodist Church at 1916 Summers Drive, Summerville.

Locations that will transport to Fort Dorchester High School are:

The Festival Center parking lot at 5101 Ashley Phosphate Road in North Charleston; and

The Cathedral of Praise parking lot at 3790 Ashley Phosphate Road in North Charleston.

Among the items residents should bring to shelters are: prescription and emergency medications; extra clothing; pillows; blankets; hygiene supplies; important documents; special items for children such as diapers, formula and toys; and other items for family members with unique needs.

“Effective at 5:00PM, the City of North Charleston MEOC moved to OPCON 3 and issued a state of emergency declaration. At 8:00AM, tomorrow, the MEOC will move to OPCON 2 with partial staffing required to meet response objectives.

Since the 11:00AM advisory from the NHC, the storm track has shifted back to the east. This DOES NOT mean that we are out of the clear. Even if the track were to hold its place, the NWS anticipates the potential for 5-7+ feet of storm surge, 8-12 inches of rainfall and tropical-storm force winds extending at or beyond the I-95 corridor. Regarding sustained winds, areas closer to the coast will see much higher values as well as potentially destructive gusts. The most significant impacts are forecasted late Friday and into Saturday. Again, we’re still outside of the 72 hour window, so confidence in specific impacts are low-medium. The tentative time to commence evacuation is 3:00PMtomorrow – in Charleston and Dorchester Counties, this will likely include zones A, B, D, E and F. Individuals living outside of the zones but in low-lying areas or mobile/manufactured homes should consider relocating to a safe structure. Coinciding with the evacuation order, emergency shelters will open as a LAST RESORT OPTION. Individuals that utilize shelters will be required to bring their own food, water, blankets and personal items to sustain themselves for at least 72 hours. It will take the American Red Cross time to move in amenities such as cots and blankets; likely after the storm passes. Pets are NOT permitted in these shelters. The pet-friendly shelter option is at Burns Elementary on Dorchester Road. DHEC is coordinating special medical/functional needs assistance and will be providing specific guidance through their public information mechanisms. In coordination with Carta, Durham Buses and Dorchester Dist. 2 Schools and a few other local transportation partners, evacuation pick-up points will be available at certain locations within the evacuation zones. Information on both shelter locations and pick-up point locations will be provided in one of tomorrow’s situation reports as well as WebEOC. All City of North Charleston, Charleston County and Dorchester County Administrative Offices, Family Court, Circuit Court will be closed for the remainder of the week. Charleston County Schools, Berkeley County, and Dorchester District 2 and District 4 Schools will be closed for the remainder of the week. This will be the final update until tomorrow. Whether you have a direct emergency duty in the MEOC or field, NOW is the time to wrap up your final preparations. The MEOC will reopen tomorrow morning at 8:00AM. If you have additional questions, please give me a call but be patient as EMD is inundated with inquiries and general readiness measures. As always, the City of North Charleston is committed to assisting local and private partners in preparing for disasters. Please do not hesitate to contact me at any time. Our ability to respond and recover from disasters will require effort from all of us. Please pass this information on to others including friends, family, civic associations, church members and others that you think need to be PREPARED! Don’t wait to get prepared! Good Night…”

Update #1 2:16 PM 10/4

Below is the most current briefing as given by the National Weather Service today at 11:30 am.